Transparent Storage Capacitor Electrodes for LCD Aperture Ratio

The patent changes the optical parameter of the storage capacitor electrodes from opaque to transparent. Specifically, it uses transparent conductive oxide layers (such as ITO, IZO, or ZnO) instead of traditional opaque metal electrodes, thereby transforming the storage capacitor from an light-blocking component to a light-transmissive component, which directly resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and aperture ratio improvement

The patent employs composite material structures for the storage capacitor, combining transparent conductive oxide layers with dielectric layers (such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, or organic dielectric materials). This composite approach maintains the capacitive function while achieving transparency, thus improving the aperture ratio without sacrificing the storage capacitor's electrical performance or manufacturing feasibility

The patent makes the second transparent conductive layer serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the second electrode of the storage capacitor, functions as a passivation layer protecting underlying structures, and provides electrical connection to transistors and pixels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate layers and manufacturing steps, thereby minimizing the increase in manufacturing complexity while achieving transparent storage capacitors

The patent merges the storage capacitor second electrode function with the passivation layer function into a single transparent conductive layer. By combining these functions, the patent avoids adding separate manufacturing steps for a dedicated passivation layer, thus reducing the overall process complexity despite the transition to transparent materials